Women’s superpower: Investing

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Women’s superpower: Investing

Watch our experts share ways to tap into your ability to build a more secure financial future.

Watch now

Merrill Lynch

The Cottrell Group

Wealth Management Group

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Merrill Lynch
Wealth Management

Our team was formed with a passion for helping clients with the challenges of managing their financial lives. We combine the vast resources of Merrill with our brand of an intimate family office boutique to provide clients with tailored family business plans and highly personalized service.

Welcome

Our team shares a common goal: to help corporate executives and business owners pursue meaningful outcomes.  Our client experience centers around a simple philosophy: funded contentment.  Wealth carries a different meaning that is unique to each of our clients.  Defining and developing a results-based roadmap that reflects this distinct mission becomes our primary objective when we engage with families of wealth. 

Our team can provide fiduciary services through Merrill’s Investment Advisory Program. In a world where investment indexing is easier now more than ever, our team adds value by helping families manage everything from executive compensation to multi-generational wealth planning.  In addition to recommending financial strategies tailored to each client's goals—such as funding children's education, helping ensure money lasts in retirement, and planning for potential health care costs—we can assist with strategies for transferring wealth to the younger generation.

Our team carries a unique mix of experience and longevity.  Combining the knowledge of professionals that single-handedly have 30+ years of experience along with a core that is under 40, we are well-equipped to serve affluent families across generations.  We have capacity to continue to serve new families, and we welcome the opportunity to open a dialogue with you.

Philosophy

The Cottrell Group serves a unique but important set of clientele—executives and the senior leadership of publicly-traded and private companies across the Midwest, particularly in the Tri-State.  Much like a cardiologist is considered a specialist of the heart in the medical community, The Cottrell Group focuses on executive compensation, estate and tax planning strategies, and wealth management.

Our team of seven is equipped to serve those employed at the highest level, especially, though not exclusively, those receiving restricted stock, options, and/or profit share.  Our team integrates itself with other professionals that your family would work with, including attorneys, accountants, and insurance agents.

How It Works

Our team utilizes a streamlined process that will ultimately end in the delivery of an action plan and retirement readiness test in three steps:

1) Introductory Call/Meeting – We set up time to introduce ourselves, explain how our team came to be, and learn what’s top-of-mind for you and yours.

2) Deeper Dive – Though this is often done in-person, this stage in the process can be done over the phone or on WebEx. We take a qualitative and quantitative look at your current situation and learn specifics about your goals.

3) Plan Delivery/Recommendations – The final stage in our process, this portion is usually done in-person, but can also be shared via WebEx.  Our team will deliver a retirement readiness test along with an actionable list of recommendations that we will revisit quarterly to help ensure that we’re moving closer to your goals or adjusting them as life changes.

Corporate Executives

We understand that as a successful corporate executive you are often time-constrained, and you need to balance multiple professional and personal goals. 
 
While unique, your needs as a corporate executive may include any of the following:

· Reducing the risk of a concentrated stock position that ties you to your company’s performance.

· Navigating and complying with SEC rules, your company’s trading restrictions, and equity reporting requirements.

· Developing a long-term financial strategy while addressing day-to-day portfolio management as your career advances and your goals change.

· Gaining easier access to cash so you can live the lifestyle you want, even though your cash flow may be uneven throughout the year.

· Working with you in a time-sensitive manner, knowing that you are busy and your career is a priority.

Our team is experienced in helping corporate executives with the complexities associated with their specific compensation packages, including company stock options, restricted stock and non-qualified deferred compensation. We work to help guide you on diversification strategies for these holdings, including 10b5-1 sales plan design and execution, Rule 144 sales, cashless stock exercise and sale, restricted sales, and/or various charitable techniques. When determining these plans, we also consider your other assets as well as your overall risk tolerance. 

We are happy to be of service to help you prioritize your financial strategy and point you in the right direction of taking the necessary steps to help you pursue your goals.

Business Owners

The needs of every business owner are unique, and we understand that running your own business can cause a myriad of emotional and financial issues. Our goal is to keep you focused on managing your business while we assist in organizing and growing your personal wealth. Some of the topics we work on with business owners include:

· Growing your business by building and expanding operations without having to use your personal assets. We offer access to a wide range of credit and lending solutions that can unlock the borrowing power of your business and free up liquidity for your use.

· Analyzing and structuring your cash flow and financing to streamline any irregularities in business process. We offer access to working capital through Bank of America, N.A, that helps you meet day-to-day expenses while providing for employees' pay, benefits and costs.

· Establishing a retirement benefits plan to help secure your employees' and your own future, or evaluating the current plan in place to determine if any opportunities exist to improve the quality of the plan.

· Safeguarding your business and your family’s future with business continuation, wealth transfer or succession strategies. We can help you and your employees manage the risks you face with insight on insurance coverage, estate planning services, as well as personalized wealth management strategies.

We provide access to Bank of America and Merrill's vast network of specialists and business professionals to tailor our advice and guidance to serve your specific needs. 

Recognition

Merrill is proud of our advisors who’ve received recognition from financial industry publications or directly from Bank of America Corporation. We believe they are setting the standard for exemplary client service.

Andrew F Cottrell

Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors" 2021, 2022
Published annually Jan- April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year.

Forbes "Top Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" 2020, 2021
Published annually Jul. - Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.

Forbes "Best-in-State Next-Generation Wealth Advisors" 2019-2022
Published annually Aug - Sept. Rankings based on data as of March 31 of current year.

Meet Our Team

Supported by the global resources of Merrill, our team is comprised of talented and experienced individuals committed to building strong client relationships based on trust and personalized service.

Additional Resources

The following specialists do not make securities recommendations. Please contact your Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor if you have questions about how a specialist might be able to assist you.

Meggan E Thompson

Wealth Management Banking Specialist

Merrill

Jonathan J Sadler

Wealth Management Lending Officer

Bank of America, N.A.

NMLS #589863

Don Livio

Investment Solutions Group Portfolio Strategist

Bank of America, N.A.

Staying on Track

We understand that both your life and the financial markets can change over time. By checking in to discuss changes in your life and revisiting your financial approach, our goal is to help you stay on track to achieve what's most important to you.



Reviews to help you
stay on track

We’ll meet with you to review your goals and the progress you’ve made toward reaching them. We’ll also discuss any adjustments needed to your financial approach to help you stay on course.



    Changes in your life
    and to your goals

    Your life and goals change. As these changes occur, we can update your approach to reflect them.

    #DigitalMerrill

    MyMerrill is your online destination for access to your financial information, secure communications, and a robust offering of tools and capabilities.

    Your advisor is a click away within our site or mobile apps

    You can manage account security with our customizable security capabilities such as touch ID, one time passcode, and other security features

    Access to your complete financial life is available with My Financial Picture, Merrill’s asset aggregation tool

      Let’s Have a Conversation

      Helping you reach your goals starts with getting to know you personally. Through understanding what matters most to you, together we can help you create a financial approach that reflects your personality. Only then can we offer an approach that is built around your life priorities and the advice you need to help you address fluctuations in the market and changes in your life. Let’s work together to help you achieve your goals.

      Why Merrill?

      As Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisors, we will sort through the financial complexities of your life, helping you build a customized investment approach to address your needs and pursue your goals.


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      We put you first, every day.
      Learn more about the dedicated one-on-one relationship you can have with a Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor.

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      Transcript of Video 

      No question too big or moment too small
      For every question you have, every decision you make and every answer you need, we are with you to listen and help guide you along the many paths your life can take. Watch this video to see some questions we can address together.


      The Power of the Right Advisor®
      Working with a dedicated Merrill advisor means you get personalized investment strategies from Merrill plus access to comprehensive financial solutions only Bank of America can deliver.

      Personalized advice from a dedicated financial advisor.

      We get to know you and your family, your financial situation and what matters most to you.

      A comprehensive approach, built around your life’s priorities.

      Drawing from our experience and the best thinking of Merrill, together we will design an approach that reflects your unique needs, priorities and financial situation.

      Adjusting your investment approach as your life and the markets change.

      We will work to help you stay on track, regardless of what the markets are doing.